Cigar-case



(N0 Model.) I

- J MAGUOLO.

' CIGAR. CASE No. 556,192. Patqnted Mar. 10, 1 96;

NAM. PMUTO-UTHQWASNINGTON. D C

'J. MAGUOLO.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

CIGAR CASE.

Patented M&I.-10,- 1896.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet a.

J. MAGUOLO.

CIGAR CASE.

" No. 556,192. Patented Mar. 10, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND MAGUOLO, OF LA CLAIRE, ILLINOIS.

CIGAR-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,192, dated March10, 1896.

Application filed June 13, 1895.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FERDINAND MAeUoLo, of the city of La Claire, Madisoncounty, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Cigar-Cases, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to an improved cigarcase; and it consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical crosssectional view of myimproved cigar-case, said View being taken approximately on theindicated line 1 1 of Fig. 2, which is a front elevation of saidcigar-case. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional View takenapproximately on the indicated line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal sectional View taken approximately on the indicated line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional View takenapproximately on the indicated line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is alongitudinal sectional View taken approximately on the indicated line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of theoperating-handles used in my improved cigar-case. Fig. 8 is an enlargeddetail sectional View taken approximately on the indicated line 8 8 ofFig. 1. Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of a portion of the horizontalpartition of my improved cigar-case on which the handles move andthrough which the bars carrying the box-trays operate. Fig. 10 is adetail front elevation of one of the ventilators made use of in myimproved cigarcase. Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional View takenapproximately on the indicated line 11 11 of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is anenlarged detail sectional view showing one of the latching devices inone of the handles in position relative to the rear Wall of the case.

In the construction of the device as shown a rectangular box-likestructure is formed of the bottom 1, front wall, 2, rear wall, 3, andend walls, 4. Located in the top portion of the front wall, 2, is asection of transparent material 5, such as glass, through which theentire inner upper portion of the case is visible. The rear wall, 3, ofthe case is slightly higher than is the front wall, 2, thereof, and inthe upper portion of said rear wall and directly opposite the Serial No.552,673. (No model.)

glass front 5 is arranged one or a series of sliding doors 6, which arearranged to slide longitudinally. In the lower portion of the rear wall,3, is arranged a door 7, which may be hinged or held to slide in saidrear wall.

Extending forward from the upper end of the rear wall, 3, to a pointapproximately midway between the front and rear walls is a top piece 8,the forward end 9 of which is curved downwardly and the lower endthereof is approximately in the same horizontal plane with the top ofthe front wall, 2. Located in this top piece 8 is a section oftransparent material 10.

Fixed to each of the end walls, 4, immediately below the top edges ofsaid end walls and below the lower edge of the downwardlyturned edge 9of the top 8, are pairs of parallel strips 11. A frame 12 has its endslocated between these parallel strips 11, and said frame is arranged toslide from the front wall, 2, to the rear wall, 3. Said frame, togetherwith a section of transparent material 13 carried thereby, is of such asize as that it will close the top portion of the case between thedownwardly-turned end 9 of the top 8 and the front wall, 2, of saidcase. Arranged transversely within the case immediately below the loweredges of the transparent section 5 and sliding door 6 is a partition 14,which may be eithersolid or composed of a number of strips arranged atslight distances apart. This latter method of constructing the partitionis sometimes preferable, as it allows a free circulation of air from thelower portion of the case to the upper portion thereof.

Located at equal distances above the bottom 1 on the inner faces of thefront and rear' walls, 2 and 3, are longitudinally-extending strips 15,upon which are positioned transverse bars or strips 16. Upon the bottom1 of the case and below these strips 16 is a metallic pan or receptacle17 provided with a perforated cover 18.

Extending longitudinally in the lower end and outer face of the rearwall, 3,015 the case is a rectangular recess 19, andextending from saidrecess through said rear wall, 3, is a series of apertures 20. A bar 21provided with a series of apertures 22 is made slightly shorter than isthe recess 19, and said bar 21 is held to slide longitudinally in saidrecess by means of overlapping strips 23, that are secured to the faceof the rear wall, 3, adjacent the edges of the recess 19.

2st indicates a shaft or tube that is fixed in bearings 25", saidbearings being fixed to the inner faces of the end walls, 4, immediatelybeneath the forward end of the top 8 and behind the downwardly-turnedforward end 9 thereof. Mounted for rotation upon this shaft 21 atsuitable distances apart are flanged wheels or pulleys 25, the samebeing hollow and having fixed to the inner faces the outer ends ofvolute springs 20, the inner ends of said springs being fixed to theshaft 24. Immediately in front of the lower portions of these wheels 25are flanged pulleys .17, the same being journaled to rotate in bearing.28 fixed to the inner side of the downwardlyturned end 9 of the top 8.

Extending vertically through the centers of the rear bars of the frames12, which are ar ranged to slide horizontally, are apertures 29 thatcommunicate with recesses 30, formed in the under sides of said rearbars and to one side of the vertical apertures 29. Immediately above thevertical apertures 29 in the lower edge of the downwardly-turned end 9are formed recesses 31, and bearing-plates, such as 32, are arrangedaround said recesses.

indicates spring-bars having their ends fixed in'the ends of therecesses 30, and the opposite ends 34 of said spring-bars are turnedvertically upward and pass through the apertures 29, and when saidapertures 29 coincide with the recesses 31 the upper ends of said upturned portions 3; pass through the plates 32 and into said recesses 31.This device performs the function of a latch for each or all of thesliding frames 12 when the same are closed.

Arranged in suitable bearings 35, fixed to the inner face of the rearwall, 3, immediately above the top of the sliding door 6 and inalignment with the flanged wheel, 27 and the lower edge of the frame 12,are flanged wheels 36, identical in form and size with said flangedwheels 27. Fixed to the inner face of the rear wall, 3, immediatelybelow the lower edge of the sliding door 6 is a series of bearings 37,in which are mounted for rotation flanged wheels 38, in every waysimilar to the flanged wheels previous] y mentioned.

Formed in the forward portion of the partition 1i and extendingthroughout the length of said partition is a series of rectangularapertures 39, and fixed to the under side of said partition 1i,immediately below said apertures 39 are rectangular metallic tubes 40.Arranged to slide in these tubes 10 are rectangular bars 41, on theupper ends of which are fixed trays 42, intended to carry ordinarycigar-boxes. Arranged in suitable bearings in front of each of theapertures 39 and on top of the partition 11 are flanged wheels Locatedin the partition 14 to the rear of each of the rectangular apertures 39and in longitudinal alignment is a series of rectangular inclinedapertures 44, and fixed to the under side of the partition 14 andsurrounding said apertures 44: are the upper ends of inclinedrectangular tubes 45. Arranged to slide in said inclined tubes i5 arerectangular bars M3, to the upper ends of which are fixed trays 17,intended to carry ordinary cigarboxes. The inclination of theselast-mentioned tubes is such that when the bars 4-6 move upwardlytherethrough the trays 4:7 will be brought to a point immediatelybeneath the sliding frame 12.

J ournaled in suitable bearings fixed to the upper side of the partitionlet in front of each of the apertures 14: is a series of flanged wheels48. Formed in the rear wall, 3, of the ease in direct alignment with theflanged wheels 13 and 48 and beneath the flanged wheels are rectangularapertures 4E9. These apertures 49 are arranged in pairs side by side,there being a pair of said apertures for each pair of vertically-movingbars 41 and 46.

Fixed to the top face of the partition 1-1 and extending from the rearwall, 3, to the apertu re 4% is a parting-strip 50, and extendingparallel with said parting-strip 50 on each side thereof areguide-strips 51, one of said strips 5]. extending forward to the frontaperture, 39.

Arranged to slide upon the face of the partition 1i, between theparting-strip 50 and shorter strip 51, is a rectangular bar 52, the rearend of which extends through the aperture i9 and is there formed into ahandle 53. In the upper surface of this rectangular bar 52 is formed alongitudinally-cxtending reeess 54, that communicates with a recess inthe forward end of said bar. The rear end of this recess 54 communicateswith a recess 56 formed in the top of the handle 53.

.lournaled upon a pin 57,that passes through cars 58, formed integralwith the upper end of the handle 53, is a trigger 59, from the rear endof which extends downwardly a curved guide 60, that enters asuitably-formed recess (51. in the top of the handle 53. A coilspring 62is interposed between the top of the handle 53 and the under side of thetrigger 59, and said coil-spring is wound around said guide 60.

Pivoted between cars 63, formed on the under side of the trigger 59, isthe upper end of a Vertically-n1oving rod (it, the lower end of which ispivoted to a bell-crank (55, that is arranged to operate in the recess50. To the other arm of said bell-crank 65 is pivoted the rear end of arod (56, that extends throughout the entire length of the recess 5% andat its opposite end is pivoted to the vertical. arm of a bell-crank 67,that is fulcrumed in the re eess 55 at the forward end of the bar Thehorizontal arm of this bell-crank (i7 is widened and is provided with acurved under side, and this arm performs the function of a latch, therebeing a plate 68, having an aperture (59 therein, fixed in the rearwall, 3, and on the lower surface of the aperture 49. A recess is formedin said rear wall, 3, immediately below the aperture 69 in this plate.

The normal tendency of the coil-spring 62 is to elevate the rear end ofthe trigger 59. Therefore the horizontal arm of the bell-crank 67 alwaysrides upon the top surface of the partition 14, and when the handle andbar 52 are withdrawn to their limit of movement said horizontal arm ofthe bell-crank 67 will engage in the aperture 69 in the plate 68.

Rectangular bars 71, in every way identical with the bar 52, justdescribed, and constructed with handles, are arranged to slide betweenthe parting-strip 50 and the longer guide strip 51, and said bars 71 areformed long enough to extend forward to the flanged wheels 53 directlyinfront of the apertures 39.

'Wound upon each of the flanged wheels 25 are suitable cords or lengthsof tape 72, that extend from said flanged wheels 25 around the flangedwheels 27, from thence rearwardly over the top series of flanged wheels36, and from thence downwardly around the series of flanged wheels 38,and are there fixed to the top faces of the rectangular bars 52 and 71immediately in front of the handles of said bars. As the flanged wheels25 are located in pairs and the flanged wheels 27, 36 and 38 arelikewise, one of the cords or tapes will be fixed to the shorter bar 52,while the other tape will be fixed to the longer bar.

Fixed to the under side of the rear bar of the frame 12 in front of thespring-plates 33 are the forward ends of cords or tapes 73, the sameextending over said spring-plates 33, from thence rearwardly over thelower series of flanged wheels 36, from thence downwardly, and aresecured in any suitable manner to the cords or tapes 72.

Cords or tapes 74 are fixed at their lower ends to the lower ends of therectangular bars 46. From thence said tapes extend upwardly through therectangular tubes 45, over the flanged wheels 48 and from thence alongthe tops of the rectangular bars 52 and are fixed to said bars, whilethe lower ends of the tapes 72 are fixed immediately in front of thehandles 53.

The lower ends of cords or tapes are fixed at the lower ends of thevertically-moving bars 41, and from thence extend upwardly through therectangular tubes 40, over the flanged wheels 43, and from thencerearwardly along the rectangular bars 71, and are fixed to the forwardends of said bars or immediately in front of the handles of said bars.

The operation is as follows: When it is desired to open the case andbring any one of the trays 47 having a box of cigars thereon intoposition where a customer can have easy access to said box of cigars,the operator grasps the handle 53 of the bar 52 that corresponds to saidtray 47 and pulls the same rearwardly. As soon as the first pull uponsaid handle is exerted the cord or tape 72 will necessarily be drawndownwardly, and the tape 73, being connected to said tape 72, will bedrawn rearwardly, and with this rearward movement of the tape 73 thespring-plate 33 will be moved downwardly, and the upwardlyextendingportion 34 thereof will be disengaged from the recess 31 in the loweredge of the downwardly-turned end 9 of the top. The frame thus beingunlatched is free to move rearwardly between the parallel guide-strips11, and this operation will take place as the handle 53 and bar 52 arepulled rearwardly by the operator. During this movement the cord or tape72 will unwind from the flanged wh'eed 25, and in so doing the volutespring 26 in said flanged wheel will be wound upon the stationary shaft24 and power will be stored in said spring. Simultaneous with thiswithdrawal of the frame 12 carrying the glasssection 13 the tape or cord74 will be drawn rearwardly, and by so doing the rectangular bar 46 willbe moved upwardly. When the bar 52 has been withdrawn to its farthestlimit of movement, said bar 46 will have been moved upwardly until thetray 47 thereon is immediately beneath the position originally occupiedby the sliding frame 12, and said frame 12 will have moved rearwardly toa point beneath the top 8. Consequently the box of cigars or articlethat is located upon said tray 47 will be in such a position as that itmay be easily inspected or removed from said tray. As the forward end ofthe bar 52 approaches the rear wall, 3, of the case, the horizontal armof the bell-crank 67, which has previously been riding upon the topsurface of the partition 14, will, by action of the spring 62, throughthe bars 64 and 66 and bell-crank 65, drop through the aperture 69 inthe plate 68 into the recess 70, thus locking said bar 52 against areturn movement. The bar 46 and tray 47 will now be held in theirelevated positions and the sliding frame 12 will be held at its rearwardlimit of movement. When it is desired to lower the bar 46 and tray 47and to close the case, the operator depresses the trigger 59, and in sodoing rocks the bell-crank 65, which moves the rod 66 rearwardly, raisesthe horizontal arm of the bell-crank 67 out of the recess 70 and fromthe aperture 69 in the plate 68, and the power heretofore stored in thevolute spring 26 and the weight of the tray 47 and bar 46 will cause thevarious parts to reassume their normal positions. As the frame 12closes, the upper end of the upturned por tion 34 of the spring-plate 33will re-engage and lock in the recess 31 formed in the lower edge of thedownwardly-turned end 9.

'Whenever the tray 42 and bar 41 are elevated, the operator withdrawsthe horizontally-moving bar 71 corresponding to the bar 41 it is desiredto raise,and operations in every way similar to the.ones just describedtake place. By providing the slats 16 a supply of cigars or otherarticles may be located within the lower portion of the case, and whencigars are stored therein the same may be kept in a properly-n1oistcondition by partially filling the pan 17 with water.

Ventilation to the interior of the case is obtained through theapertures 22 and 20 located respectively in the bar 21 and the lowerportion of the rear wall, 3, of the case.

'While a case of this construction is especially applicable for cigars,it will be easily understood how various articles usually displayed inshow-cases may be located upon the trays.

A case of my improved construction simple, easily opera-ted, saves muchtime and la bor in displaying or delivering goods to a purchaser, andsaid case presents a very neat appearance when properly constructed.

I claim- 1. In a cigar or show case, a rectangular casing, a horizontalpartition within said casing dividing the same into two compartments, asliding door arranged to close a portion of the top of the uppercompartment, a liquid-containing receptacle located in the bottom of thelower compartment, a series of rectangular tubes fixed to and dependingfrom the under side of the horizontally-arranged partition, barsarranged to slide in said tubes, goods-carryin g trays arranged upon topof said bars, bars arranged to slide horizontally over the partition infront of the verticallymoving bars and through the rear wall of thecasing, handles fixed to said bars outside said rear wall, suitableflanged wheels arranged within the upper compartment, and flexible cordsor tapes fixed to said handles and pass ing over the flanged wheels tothe verticallymoving bars and to the horizontally-sliding door.

2. In a cigar or show case, a suitable rectangular casing, a door havinga transparent section therein arranged to slide horizontally in the topof said casing, a shaft journaled in the top of said casing to the rearof said sliding door, flanged wheels arranged for rotation upon saidshaft, volute springs located within said flanged wheels and havingtheir outer ends fixed to said wheels and their inner ends fixed to theshaft, suitable flanged wheels arranged in proper position on the insideof a portion of the casing, a latching device arranged to lock thesliding door in a closed position, a partition arranged horizontallywithin the casin g, rectangular tubes depending therefrom bars arrangedto move in said tubes, goods-earryin g trays arranged on the upper endsof said bars, bars arranged to move horizontally upon said partition andthrough the rear wall of the casing, handles fixed to the rear ends ofsaid horizontallymoving bars, and flexible cords or tapes having theirrear ends fixed to the rectangular bars immediately in front of thehandles and extending fromthence over the flanged wheels fixed to theinner faces of the casing, to the lower ends of the vertically-movingbars carrying the trays, over the latching device, and to the rear endof the sliding door and around the flanged wheels rotating upon thefixed shaft.

3. In a cigar or show case having horizontally-movabledoors,vertically-movi n g goodscarrying trays, a series ofhorizontally-1noving bars having handles formed integral with their rearends and in which are formed suitable recesses connectedbylongitudinally-extending slots, bell-cranks pivoted in the recesses ofeach of the bars, rods connecting said bell-cranks, a spring-actuatedtrigger for operating the forward one of said bell-cranks, the rearbell-cranks performing the function of latches when the bars arewithdrawn to their rearward limit of movement, and suitable tapes orcords from said bars to the sliding door and verticallyunoving trays.

4. A cigar or show case, constructed with a suitable casing, ahorizontal partition within said casin g, a series of doors arranged toslide horizontally in the top of said casing, rectan' gular tubescarried by the under side of the horizontal partition, bars arranged toslide in said tubes, goods-carrying trays carried by the upper ends ofsaid bars, guides located upon the horizontal partition immediately inthe rear of the Vertically-sliding bars, horizontal bars sliding betweensaid guides, handles formed integral with the rear ends of said bars, ashaft located in the top of the casin g, spring-actuated drums carriedby said shaft, a series of cords or tapes extending from the integralhandles on the horizontally-moving bars that carry the trays to thehorizontally sliding doors, and to the spring actuated drums, andsuitable latching devices carried by the horizontal]y-moving bars forholding the same at their rearward limit of m ovement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FERDINAND MA GU 0L0.

\Vitnesses:

WM. E. \VHEELER, .Ir., F. E. SEBASTIAN.

